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“The Gospel in Creation.”—By E. J. Waggoner. A nicely illustrated work, setting forth clearly and simply the relation between God’s work in creation and redemption. The confirmation of the truths of the Gospel drawn from the study of the creation will make this book a valuable one to all who are watching with interest the attacks that are now made on the authority of the Bible. Board covers, 25 cents; cloth, 40 cents.
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“Christian Education.”—By Mrs. E. G. White. Starting from the period of infancy, it points out the most successful way of preparing the mind of the child for the work of succeeding years. The importance of proceeding upon Christian principles in the work of education, the nature and kind of studies which are best for children, and the moulding influences of home and associates, are dwelt upon in the most practical and explicit way. Many of the problems that perplex parents are cleared up in this book, and every one who has to deal with children should procure and study it. 12mo, cloth, 256 pages, 50 cents.
“The Story of Pitcairn Island.”—By Rosalind Amelia Young, a native daughter. Pitcairn Island, one of the volcanic gems of the Pacific, has been heard of wherever the English language has been spoken. The story of the working out of the problem of human life on its limited territory reads stranger and more thrillingly in many respects than a romance. Miss Rosa Young, who is now visiting in Oakland, Cal., is one of the direct descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty. The book is a plain, unvarnished tale of Pitcairn and its inhabitants from its settlement to the year 1894. It is written with a charming simplicity of style which refreshes the reader and invites a continued perusal. Illustrated with 26 engravings by the half-tone process, and its 23 chapters have each a neatly engraved heading. Third edition, with appendix. Price, $1.00.
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GIVE YOUR HEART ROOM.
By Dr. L. A. Banks
THE newspapers have been telling us that a son of Senator Foraker, of Ohio, who had been given up to die because his heart did not have room to work, has been cured in a few weeks by an old physician in Missouri, who punched and prodded the lad until he gave the heart more room. The little fellow’s chest by this constant exercise was reconstructed on new architectural lines, and his cure is now considered permanent. There are a good many Christians who are suffering from that sort of trouble who might be cured in the same way. A great many people are so shut in by their selfishness that the heart does not have a fair chance to perform its functions. God often seeks by prodding us and punching us and putting us under the hard pressure of discipline to so enlarge us that the heart may beat in a manner worthy of the sons of God. Let us welcome his loving correction.—Dr. L. A. Banks.
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“And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and works. But when he was well-nigh forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, smiting the Egyptian; and he supposed that his brethren understood how that God by his hand was giving them deliverance; but they understood not. And the day following he appeared unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wouldest thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday? And Moses fled at this saying, and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons. And when forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. And when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold, there came a voice of the Lord, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. And Moses trembled, and durst not behold. And the Lord said unto him, Loose the shoes from thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. I have surely seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them; and now come, I will send thee into Egypt. This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. This man led them forth, having wrought wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years. This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me. This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us; to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make us gods which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, which led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands.”
QUESTIONS.
1. Relate the outline story of the children of Israel which we have thus far considered in this chapter.
2. What great event was, according to God’s purpose, about to take place when Moses was born?
3. Where was Moses brought up?
4. What is said of his learning and power?
5. What took place when he was forty years old?
6. When he saw one of his brethren oppressed, what did he do?
7. What did he suppose? Did his brethren accept him as a deliverer?
8. What did Moses then have to do?
9. Where did he go, and how long did he remain there?
10. What took place at the end of forty years?
11. How did God declare himself from the burning bush?
12. How did the presence of the Lord affect the place?
13. What did the Lord say he had seen? For what purpose did he say he had come?
14. By whom did he propose to deliver the people?
15. What did God do in bringing Israel out of Egypt?
16. What did Moses tell the children of Israel that God would do? Whom was this prophet to be like? From whom was he to be raised up? How were the people to regard this prophet?
17. Where do we find this prophecy recorded?
18. With whom was Moses in the wilderness? What existed in the days of Moses as well as now? What did Moses receive to give to us?
19. How did the people regard him? What did they do to him? What did they do in their hearts?
20. Then from what had they not been really delivered?
21. What did they say to Aaron?
22. What did they make? How did they regard the work of their own hands?
Additional Questions and Suggestions.
1. With whom is Christ compared? Heb. 3:1, 2. Could any man possibly have a higher recommendation than this is to Moses? How important are the writings of Moses? John 5:46, 47.
2. Where was Moses faithful? Heb. 3:2. Where was Christ also faithful? What is the house of God? 1 Tim. 3:15. What else is the church called? Col. 1:18. How many bodies are there? Eph. 4:4. Then how many houses, or churches, has the Lord? Since Christ and Moses were both faithful in the house of the Lord, if one is in fellowship with Christ, how must he regard Moses?
The Sunday School
International Series.
LESSON XI.—SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1897.
CHRISTIAN LIVING.
NOTE.—This letter was written near the close of Paul's third missionary journey, as he was about to return to Jerusalem from Corinth with contributions for the poor at that place, and was sent by Phebe, “a servant of the church at Cenchrea.” Nero was emperor of Rome at this time, A.D. 58. About three years after the writing of this epistle Paul was taken to Rome, having appealed to Cæsar during his trial before Festus.
9 “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another; in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing steadfastly in prayer; communicating to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink; 21 for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Golden Text.—“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”Rom. 12:21.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What is necessary to true Christian love? Verse 9. Note 1. (2) How should the Christian conduct himself toward that which is evil? (3) Toward that which is good? (4) How will true conversion affect one's deportment toward his fellows? Verse 10. (5) What will this lead them to do one for another? (6) What three admonitions are given in verse 11? Note 2. (7) What will the hope of the Christian lead him to do? Verse 12. (8) How should he conduct himself during trials? Same verse. Note 3. (9) Through what comes his power to do this? Same verse. (10) How will he act toward the needy? Verse 13. (11) What will be characteristic of him in this regard? Same verse. Note 4. (12) How will the Christian conduct himself toward those who persecute him? Verse 14. Note 5. (13) How will he show his interest in others, their joys and sorrows? Verse 15. (14) What exhortation does the apostle use to prevent dissensions in the church? Verse 16. Note 6. (15) How does he discourage a selfish ambition? Same verse. (16) To do this what will be necessary in regard to one's estimate of himself? Same verse. (17) How is he to conduct himself toward those who wrong him? Verse 17. Note 7. (18) How should he plan his conduct before all? Same verse. (19) What is his duty among men? Verse 18. (20) When wronged, how will he conduct himself? Verse 19. (21) Who only has authority to mete out vengeance? Same verse. (22) How will the Christian conduct himself toward his enemies? Verse 20. (23) What will be the result to the evil-doer? Same verse. (24) How does the apostle conclude his instruction to the followers of Christ in regard to their relations with their fellow-men? Verse 21.
NOTES.
1. Let love be without hypocrisy.—A man can be a hypocrite toward man as well as toward his Maker. A hypocrite is one who feigns to be what he is not that he may be regarded worthy of the character which he simulates. The apostle urges sincere love, not mere politeness. The honest man will not profess to have what he does not in reality have, even though such profession is pleasing to his listeners. If you love the brethren, say so; if you do not, pray for conversion.
2. Not slothful.—“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” The opinion of the world is worthy of consideration in one thing, and that is, the effect upon our lives of the religion which we profess. Many may be turned away from a favorable consideration of the claims of Christianity by the slothful lives of those who profess to have it. The industrious, “fervent” Christian is a sermon in life, and is often read with good results by the world around him.
3. Patient in tribulation.—The word tribulation is from the Latin word “tribulum,” the instrument with which the Romans separated the grain from the husks. So the trials and adversities of this life are called by the apostle tribulations, the instruments which separate in the Christian’s character the wheat from the chaff, and prepare him for the garner above. In other words, they are the sculptor’s chisel which hews our character to the image of the character of Christ.
4. Given to hospitality.—Literally, “pursuing hospitality,” making it a business, a characteristic. The word in the original conveys the idea of seeking the opportunity to be hospitable. We are “not to wait for those that shall ask it, and see when they will come to us, but to run to them, and be given to finding them.”
5. Bless, and curse not.—This is almost a quotation from the Sermon on the Mount. Matt. 5:44. It is also in perfect harmony with that remarkable saying of Christ in Matt. 7:12. Paul had had abundant opportunity to practise this Christian virtue, as well as to watch its operation in others; for he had given others opportunity to exercise it toward him, and later had been bitterly persecuted by those who had formerly given him authority to persecute others. If we exercise toward those who oppress us the same feelings which they exercise toward us, we have lost our opportunity of doing them good, and in addition are slipping back ourselves along the way which we had climbed. We have lost our foothold and are in grave danger of falling.
6. Be of the same mind.—This is only one of a number of similar exhortations of the apostle, that the church might be free from discord and present a solid front to the enemy. The soldiers who wrangle among themselves when the battle is on are losing half their power to withstand the onslaught of the foe. Read 1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 2:2; 3:16. For the members of the church to be of one mind, its individual members must surrender their wills to the will of Christ, and their minds to the mind of Christ. Each having his mind, they all have one mind, and must be “like-minded.”
7. Evil for evil.—This prohibition is also taught by the life of the Saviour, “who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” 1 Peter 2:23. “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9. Read also Matt. 5:44, 45; 1 Thess. 5:15, and Prov. 20:22.
News and Notes
FOREIGN.
—The Porte, alarmed at the state of anarchy which exists in Turkish Kurdistan, has ordered a general mobilization of troops along the Persian frontier.
—Rev. J. Batchelor, of the English Church Mission in Japan, reports that during the past two years over 680 of the Ainos have joined the Church of Christ by baptism.
—Five hundred coal miners employed by the Alberta Coal Company at Lethbridge, Canada, went out on a strike on August 12 for an increase of ten per cent. in wages.
—It is reported that the death of Dr. Tholsen, the physician of the late shah of Persia, was caused by present officials of that government, because the doctor knew “too many secrets.”
—It is stated that under special orders from Emperor William the Jews in the eastern provinces of Prussia are being driven forth with the most pitiless severity, without any apparent cause or legal process.
—A Spanish medical official states that if the present rate of sickness among the soldiers continues, it is probable that by next winter there will not be over 10,000 effective soldiers in the Spanish army in Cuba.
—It is reported that in view of the enmity existing between General Weyler and General Azcarraga, the now acting premier of Spain, the former has resigned his position in Cuba, and will soon return to Madrid.
—The rebellion in India is still unsubdued, and heavy fighting is reported to have taken place during the 16th and 17th of August. The despatch states that the whole border seems to be in a state of unrest.
—The Supreme Council of War at Madrid has confirmed the sentence of death passed by court-martial upon Michael Angiolillo, the assassin of Canovas del Castillo, and he will be garroted on Friday, August 20.
—Agitators in the republics of Central America are busy again trying to stir up another war. Nicaragua has grievances against Costa Rica, and if the people will support President Zelaya, it is thought war will be declared.
—On August 5 the Portuguese troops surprised and routed the rebellious Mapulanquenes in Africa, killing 23 of the chiefs and 293 of their followers. The expedition then laid waste all the territory of the rebellious tribesmen.
—It is reported that in Russia the czar has joined forces with the Sunday-rest agitators by promulgating a decree prohibiting, under severe penalty, any form of labor on Sunday, or on the fourteen principal Russian feast days.
—Just at this time, while sickness is thinning the ranks of the Spanish soldiers in Cuba, the Cubans are manifesting unusual activity, and the sacking of Spanish towns and attacking of Spanish garrisons are of frequent occurrence.
—The Dervishes are preparing to make a final and desperate stand against the advance of the Anglo-Egyptian expedition in the vicinity of Khartoum, and the famous Osman Digna has been summoned by the khalifa to command the Dervishes.
—Peace negotiations between the Porte and the ambassadors of the powers are said now to be at a complete standstill on account of the refusal of England to permit the Turkish occupation of Thessaly, pending a partial payment of the indemnity agreed upon.
—A report states that another carrier pigeon has been captured, bearing a message from Herr Andree, and directed to the Stockholm Aftonbladet, stating that the explorers had traveled eighty-two degrees northward. By many this is believed to be another fabrication.
—It is reported that an attempt was made to wreck the train upon which the emperor and empress of Germany were returning from their visit to St. Petersburg. The train immediately following the imperial coaches was derailed and several passengers lost their lives.
—Japan’s new battle-ship, the Yashima, of 12,400 tons’ displacement, recently completed in England, is claimed to be one of the greatest fighting machines ever built. In speed she is said to outrank any battle-ship afloat. She is 372 feet long, 73 feet beam, and draws 26.3 feet.
—A report from Berlin states that the town of Ostrow, Russia, has been completely destroyed by fire, rendering 4,000 persons homeless. The fire is said to have started simultaneously in four different parts of the town. A number of persons lost their lives, and many children are missing.
—The city of Constantinople is reported to be greatly excited over bomb explosions attempted and accomplished on the afternoon of August 18. Two explosions occurred about the same time in different parts of the city, and a third was attempted near the Ottoman Bank. It is believed that the bomb throwing is a part of an extensive plot connected with the threatening placard recently posted upon the buildings of Turkish government officials, and demanding a change in the administration of government.
—The State Department at Washington has received authentic information to the effect that the governments of Spain and Peru have concluded a treaty of arbitration, by which all differences which they can not themselves settle amicably are to be submitted to the mediation of a foreign power.
—The government of Mexico is said to be confronting a serious situation, and much anxiety is felt on account of the continued depreciation of silver. Mexican bankers are advocating a decrease of the rate of interest now paid on the public debt, as it is predicted that the Mexican silver dollar will yet reach the thirty-cent mark.
—Since 1870 religious processions through the streets of Rome have been forbidden; but recently the prime minister of Italy has removed the restriction, and now religious processions are as frequent in Rome as in other cities. It is thought that this will facilitate the restoration of cordial relations between the Vatican and the government.
—The Mexican Government has entered upon a destructive war against the Yucatan Indians, a tribe which has never been subdued by white men, and it is feared that the conflict may precipitate war between Mexico and Guatemala. In view of this fact, the recent purchase by the Mexican Government of 25,000 modern rifles from Berlin, has peculiar significance.
—Another attempt on the life of M. Faure, president of France, was made on August 18. A bomb filled with bullets and iron missiles was exploded on the route which the president took when starting for his visit to the czar, but the explosion did not take place till the president had passed. An anarchist with a loaded revolver was afterward arrested on the train which conveyed the president.
—The civil governor of the province of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, announces that he wishes to find homes for 1,600 Cuban orphans, whose parents have perished as rebels in the field or have starved in the garrisons where they have been concentrated. Persons who take these children are required to pay a certain sum as a voucher of good faith, which may be used for the maintenance of those remaining uncared for.
—The assassination of Premier Canovas, of Spain, by an avowed anarchist, has led to increased activity by the police of various European cities in hunting out dangerous leaders of that society, and a number of important arrests have been made, together with the seizure of bombs, explosives, and incriminating documents. The Italian police claim that they have conclusive evidence of the existence of an international anarchist plot.
—Rev. C. M. Spinning, writing of religious work in Chile, says: “Take the Catholic Church as it was just before the Reformation, eliminate what little good there still remained, mix it with rites and superstitions of the Indians, then give it three centuries to develop and entrench itself in every part of the nation’s life, and you have the religion of Chile as it is to-day. It is a matter of thanksgiving that the people are breaking away from it, even if temporarily they go to the other extreme,—infidelity.”
—The ameer of Afghanistan has yielded to British pressure and ordered his subjects to refrain from assisting or inciting the rebels of India against the English Government. The Pan-Islamic Synod, of Constantinople, now claims that in this act the ameer has disobeyed its orders, and that it will force him to do its bidding. A member of the synod is reported to have said: “We have now induced the Brahmins to join us in working against the British yoke. The war of the Koran against the Gospel is beginning. Nothing can now prevent what is here written from happening.”
—A great change is reported to have taken place in Chow Han, China, where lives the author of the famous Hunan pamphlets, in which such bitter attacks were made upon Christianity and foreigners in general. It has been reported that this man has become converted; but such is not the case. He has, however, ceased active opposition to Christianity in public as well as private, through his reading of Christian publications; and while he will not now express an opinion one way or the other in regard to Christianity, his change of attitude is having a marked influence for good.
—Affairs in the east at the present time are in a marvelous maze. Since the visit of Emperor William to the czar, the Russian press has manifested a warm friendship for Germany, and an unwonted animosity for England, and it is rumored that there is an agreement between them to checkmate Great Britain. It is strongly hinted that the long-threatened Russian intrigue against English influences in India has materialized, and that to her influence is due the present uprising. Turkey’s influence is on the side of the revolting East Indians, and she seems to be stirring up all the trouble possible for England in Mohammedan circles. On the other hand, England is accused of playing a game of her own, by which she hopes to secure Suda Bay in the island of Crete for a naval station, and of being willing to sacrifice the interests of the Cretan Christians in order to obtain that end. A correspondent of Constantinople who claims to be speaking from a knowledge of facts in the matter, says: “I am certain that we are nearing a big crash here. The Turks have not the faintest intention of abandoning either Crete or Thessaly, and Russia has not the slightest intention of leaving them there.”
—Prince Henry of Orleans, while a member of a French expedition in Abyssinia, took occasion to criticize the Italian officers there held in captivity. On his return to France he received several challenges from prominent Italians. He accepted that of the Count of Turin, nephew of King Humbert of Italy, and the duel was fought in the suburbs of Paris on August 14. Both the principals were wounded in the encounter, but the Italian was declared victor, Prince Henry having received a dangerous abdominal wound which rendered him hors de combat. Italy’s sense of honor is satisfied, altho nothing has been done to refute the charges of the prince. The emperor of Germany wired congratulations to the count, thus embittering the hatred already existing between the French and Germans.
DOMESTIC.
—A prominent physician of New York claims to have discovered a cure for consumption through the agency of electricity.
—On August 14 two masked highwaymen held up and robbed a number of Yellowstone National Park coaches, relieving the tourists of about $500.
—The work on the construction of the new Puget Sound fortifications is being delayed by a strike of the workmen, who demand an increase of wages before they will resume operations.
—It is stated that the oldest married couple in the United States is Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hiller, of Elkton, Mich., whose respective ages are 107 and 105. They were married eighty-seven years ago.
—It is reported that the twenty-four members of the faculty of Brown University who signed the protest against the dismissal of President Andrews will be dismissed also before the college opens this fall.
—Five policemen of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, were seriously cut by a razor in the hands of James Elbert, an Austrian anarchist, whom they had arrested on August 15. Elbert then attempted to escape, but was finally captured.
—The Ordnance Bureau of the War Department, on August 17, awarded the contract for building five disappearing gun carriages to the Bethlehem Iron Company, of Pennsylvania, at $28,560 each, the entire lot to be completed within nine months.
—Reports from Alaska state that hundreds of prospectors are now stranded near the various mountain trails, unable to get over. The report that the Canadian Government had rescinded the royalty tax on gold has since been found to be untrue. The tax will be collected, as well as duties on all supplies over one hundred pounds.
—Over five hundred citizens of the town of Rock Island, Illinois, members of the Modern Woodmen of America, raided the town of Fulton on August 13 for the purpose of carrying off the records of the society and transferring the headquarters to Rock Island. A free fight ensued, in which sixteen persons were seriously injured.
—Dunn’s Weekly Review of Trade of August 14 states that “every city reporting this week notes increase in trade, and nearly all report bright crop prospects. The great change in business is emphasized by the presence of a multitude of buyers from all parts of the country; but the customary signs of prosperity are not lacking.”
—The Cramps Shipbuilding Company, of Pennsylvania, and the Union Iron Works, of San Francisco, have both agreed to furnish the diagonal armor for the war ships which they are building at the price stipulated by Congress, $300 per ton. The remainder of the armor will probably not be supplied for the ships until the government plant is erected.
—Two American inventors are experimenting in England with a new device for increasing the speed of telegraph operating. The government telegraph plant was placed at their disposal, and the experiment proved satisfactory. It is claimed that by their device enough matter can be transmitted over one line in an hour to fill a page of a newspaper.
—A cablegram from Buenos Ayres states that the captain and mate of the American schooner Olive Pecker have been murdered by the crew. The vessel was afterward burned and the crew escaped to the island of Bahia. The owners of this vessel were the owners of the barkentine on which Captain Nash and wife and Mate Pamburg were murdered some time ago near Nova Scotia.
—President McKinley has recently promulgated amendments to the civil-service rules, which are eliciting praise from civil-service reformers. The rule of most importance provides that no removal shall be made from any position subject to competitive examination, except for just cause and upon written charges, of which the accused shall have full notice and an opportunity to make defense.
—The striking coal miners in the eastern States have been served with sweeping injunctions forbidding them to march, camp, or in any way interfere with the working of the coal mines, and the operators have decided to begin operations in the mines at once, guarding their workmen with Pinkertons and Gatling guns if necessary. In the opinion of some the strike is practically broken. Others believe that the serious work of the strike has just begun, and that much blood will be shed before order is restored.
